politics and voices from the underground

Just got this e-flyer from NARAL New York. If you happen to be in the area, try to check this out. Otherwise read about on NARAL’s site by clicking here.

We’re still not awake……

Issues That MatterThe Attack On Abortion

Dear Friends of NARAL Pro-Choice New York,

You're invited to Issues That Matter – The Attack On Abortion.

As Louisiana follows in South Dakota's footsteps by passing an abortion ban and Ohio considers its own ban, NARAL Pro-Choice New York brings you July's Issues That Matter Forum: The Attack on Abortion.

NARAL Pro-Choice New York welcomes Vivien Labaton from the Center for Reproductive Rights to help shed light on what this means for reproductive rights in this country.

Issues That Matter is a forum for discussions with guest speakers exploring how we can protect a woman's right to choose.

What:
Ms. Labaton will speak about the implications of the South Dakota abortion ban and how it relates to Gonzales v. Carhart – the upcoming challenge to the first-ever federal abortion ban on abortion that will be heard by the newly reconstituted Supreme Court in October.

Join us as we learn about The Federal Abortion Ban and how the newly stacked Supreme Court can change the face of abortion in this country. To learn more about the Federal Abortion Ban and Carhart v. Gonzales, click here.

This will be a very popular event and space is limited. RSVP is required. Please RSVP by clicking here.

If you would like additional information or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 212-343-0114 x19. I look forward to your reply and, hopefully, to seeing you on July 12!
Sincerely,

My friend, and Junoon singer and guitarist, Salman Ahmed will be playing to shows at Joe’s Pub Saturday, June 24 at 7:30 and 9:30. Seeing Salman play live is like having a divine, spiritual experience. He is not only an amazing musician; Salman is inspired by Sufism, a beautiful and “mystical” path of Islam, and incorporates it into his music. Junoon has sold over 25 million albums worldwide.

Born in Pakistan, Salman and his wife, Samina, are humanitarians and work tirelessly to promote better understanding between the western and Muslim world, end the spread of AIDS, and work towards peace. Salman is a UN Ambassador for HIV/AIDS.

I’ll report more after the show. For tickets, log onto Joe’s Pub here.

Cheers to all the DMI award winners, but special kudos to Kos because the Internet and blogsphere are changing and reshaping how we get and think about the news, interpret policy, and take our mainstream media and politicians to task.

There is still the seemingly impenetrable air that we can’t change the way things are – but of course we can. Somehow we ended up in this sad state of affairs, which means we can change the direction we are going in. To quote Marsalis (from DMI Blog):

“Look around the room… and I want you all to understand that there are forces all around you who wish to exploit division, rob you of your freedom, and tell you what to think. They are afraid of change… some of these forces are even within you. But I'm here to tell you, when young folks are motivated to action, when they act with insight, soul and fire, they can rekindle the weary spirit of a slumbering nation. It's time somebody woke us up.”

We need these leaders and more. I’m glad to be back blogging, to be a part of the movement, and to attend the event and join my fellow bloggers and activists to make change. To check out the DMI benefit event, click here.

DMI’s Mission

The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to challenging the tired orthodoxies of both the right and the left. The goal: progressive public policy for social and economic fairness. DMI's approach is unwavering: We do not issue reports to see our name in print or hold forums for the sake of mere talk. We seek to change policy by conducting research into overlooked, but important social and economic issues, by leveraging our strategic relationships to engage policymakers and opinion leaders in our work, and by offering platforms to amplify the ideas of those who are working for social and economic fairness.